Minnow bucket irrigating valve



March 10, 1970 J. ARTIN 3,499,243

MINNOW BUCKET IRRIGATING VALVE Filed Aug. s1, 1967 United States PatentO 3,499,243 MINNOW BUCKET IRRIGATING VALVE Joseph Artin, 4451 N. 58thSt., Milwaukee, Wis. 53218 Filed Aug. 31, 1967, Ser. No. 664,833 Int.Cl. A01k 97/04 U.S. Cl. 43-56 9 Claims ABSTRACT OF THE DISCLOSUREDisclosed herein is a transportable live bait container which can beconnected by a Ibalanced type double valve coupling assembly to allowfor the free flow of water into and out of the container when thecontainer is placed in a boat. The coupling assembly is provided withnormally closed valve members which are spring biased so that both valvemembers are opened on connection of of the coupling assembly to allowfor the free flow of `water through the hose.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION This invention relates to live baitcontainers and to a doubled valved coupling assembly for connecting thecontainer to the water outside of a boat. Live bait such as minnows orfrogs are generally kept in a container such as a pail or bucket whichis filled with water and placed in the bottom of a boat. The water inthe pail must be changed periodically or it will become stagnant causingthe Ibait in the container to die. A number of devices have beendesigned to prevent the water in such containers from becoming stagnantbut these generally involve costly recirculating systems or redesigns ofthe boat hull in order to accommodate the system. These devices are alsopermanent type installations requiring a secondv In the presentinvention a transportable type live bait container is placed in thebottom of a boat and connected directly to the water outside of the boatto allow the water to flow into and out of the container. The waterlevel within the container will then always be at the same level as thewater level outside of the boat. As the boat rocks the water level inthe container will rise above or drop below the level of the water onthe outside of the boat and water will either flow out of or into thecontainer. The container can also be quickly drained by merely raisingthe container while it is connected to the outside of the boat to removethe 'bait and then replaced on the bottom of the boat to refill thecontainer.

A valved coupling assembly is used to interconnect the container and aninlet attachment provided in the bottom or side of the boat or transom.The coupling assembly includes a first normally closed Valve memberprovided at the end of the hose which is connected to the inletattachment and a second normally closed valve member connected to anopening in the container. When the container is placed in the boat thevalve members are connected and interlocked and the connecting motionused to open both valve members. Water will then be free to flow intoand out of the container.

Other objects and advantages of the present invention will become morereadily apparent from the following detailed description when read inconnection with lthe accompanying drawings in which:

FIG. 1 is an end View in section of the boat showing the container inthe bottom of the boat.

FIG. 2 is an exploded view in perspective of the coupling assembly.

3,499,243 Patented Mar. 10, 1970 f. ICC

FIG. 3 is a view in section showing a connected coupling assembly.

FIG. 4 is a view in section of a disconnected coupling assembly.

FIG. 5 is a view in section of the inlet attachment for the hose on theboat hull.

Referring specifically to the figures in the drawing, a transportablelive bait container 10 shown in the form of a minnow pail is positionedon the bottom 12 of a boat 14. Water from the outside of the boat isallowed to flow freely into and out of the container through a hose 16connected to an inlet attachment or connecting means 18 mounted in thetransom 20 of the boat and a double valved coupling assembly 21 providedat the end of the hose and in the container. The water line 22 in thecontainer and the water line 24 of the water on the outside of the boatwill always tend to be on the same level. If the boat rockscounterclockwise about center line 2'5 of the boat, the water level inthe pail will be below the water level outside the boat and water willtend to llow into the container. The sarne action occurs if the boatrocks fore and aft. Since a boat normally rocks periodically when in thewater, there will be a fairly continuous circulation of water into andout of the container. In the event that the boat remains stationary, thecontainer can be emptied and refilled by merely raising the containerand allowing some of the water to drain.

The inlet attachment in the side wall of the boat includes a threadedtubular fitting 26 having a gasket or seal 32 located adjacent flange 30on one end of the fitting. The fitting is inserted through a hole 28located below the water line in the side wall 20 of the boat untilflange 30 and gasket 32 abut the side wall. The flange is brought uptight against gasket 32 and the side wall of the boat by screwing nut 34onto the fitting. The end 36 of the hose 16 is pushed onto the fittingand secured tightly thereto by band type clamp 38.

The other end 37 of the hose is closed by valved coupling member ormeans 40 (FIGS. 2, 3, and 4) which includes a cylindrical housing 42having a tubular extension 44 that is inserted into the end of the hoseand sealed by a clamp 70. A cylindrical valve cap 52 is biased by acompression spring 56 seated on flange 5S into engagement with valveseat 66 on flange 58 in retainer cap 46. The cap is retained in the bore48 of the housing by pins 50 with an O-ring seal 64 positioned in thegap between flange 51 and the housing. Guides or spaces 54 are providedon the inner surface of the retainer cap to support the valve cap foraxial motion in the retainer cap. A second O-ring seal 62 is mounted onthe front of valve cap to engage valve seat 66 and seal the opening inthe housing 42.

The housing 42 for coupling member 40 is formed for insertion into avalved wall coupling member or means 72 mounted in aperture 74 in theside wall of the container. The coupling member 72 includes a tubularhousing 76 Iwhich is inserted into aperture until flange 78 abuts theside wall of the container. A gasket 80 is positioned between the flange76 and side wall to seal the housing in the aperture. Any means such asscrew 82 and self-sealing nut 84 can be used to hold the housing 76 onthe container.

The passage 86 in the housing 76 is normally closed by valve disc 88which is biased by compression spring into engage-ment with a valve seat90 on flange 92. A snap ring 102 is pushed into a groove 104 in passage86 to retain the spring in housing 76. The valve disc has a number ofspacer or guide knobs 94 around its outer periphery to guide the discfor axial motion in passage 86 and an O-ring seal 98 to sealingly engagethe valve seat.

The normally closed valve members are opened when the hose couplingmember is inserted into and interlockingly engaged lwith the wallcoupling member. A valve opening means such as valve stem 106 on valvedisc 88 is axially aligned with valve cap 52 and engages the center ofthe valve cap when the hose coupling member 42 is inserted into the wallcoupling member 76. The valve stem is made longer than the distancebetween the valve seats 66 and 90 and when the valve coupling membersare connected the valve stem will hold the valve cap and valve discapart a distance greater than the distance between the valve seats (FIG.3). The spring force of both spring 56 and spring 100 is approximatelyequal and as a consequence both the valve cap and valve disc Will beunseated from their respective valve seats. It should be noted that thevalve stern could be mounted on the Valve cap or could take a differentform and accomplish the same result.

To connect and lock the hose coupling member 40 to the wall couplingmember 72, pin 108 on housing 42 is aligned with L-shaped slot 110 onhousing 76 and housing 42 pushed into housing 76 until cap 46 abutsflange 92. O-ring seal 64 seals the joint between housing 42 andretainer cap 46, and also seals both the housing 42 and cap 46 inhousing 76. Housing 42 is then rotated to seal pin S in recess 112 atthe end of slot 110. The valve stem will engage the valve cap as thehousing 42 is inserted into housing 76 and will force valve cap 52 andvalve disc 88 away from their respective valve seats.

Both valves will then be opened and water will be free to flow throughthe hose into or out of the pail. On disconnection, the housing 42 istwisted until pin 108 is properly aligned in slot 110 and housing 42pulled out of housing 76. The compression springs will move the valvedisc and valve cap back into engagement with their respective valveseats closing the passages in both houslngs.

In the device as disclosed, the coupling assembly has been shown anddescribed as mounted on the live bait container. It should be apparent,however, that the coupling assembly could also be mounted on the sidewall of the boat and the base attached to the live bait container.

Although only one embodiment of the present invention has been shown anddescribed it should be apparent that various changes and modificationscan be made herein without departing from the scope of the invention.

What is claimed is: A

1. The combination with a boat and a transportable live bait containerof means adapted to allow for the free flow of water from the outside ofsaid boat into said container, said -means comprising,

a hose,

connecting means in the side wall of said boat for connecting said hoseto the water outside of said boat, rst valved coupling means in saidhose,

a second valved coupling means in said container,

said first and second coupling means being adapted for interlockingengagement,

and valve opening means to open both valved coupling means on engagementof said first and second coupling means.

2. The combination according to claim 1 wherein said first valvedcoupling means comprises a first housing connected to said hose, andhaving a valve seat and a valve cap biased toward engagement with saidseat,

and said second valved coupling means comprises a second housing havinga valve seat and a valve disc biased toward engagement with said valveseat.

3. The combination according to claim 2 wherein said valve opening meanscomprises a stem positioned between said valve disc and valve cap.

4. In a boat having an inlet attachment, a live bait container connectedto said inlet attachment in said boat to allow for the free circulationof water from outside the boat into the container, said containerincluding a wall coupling member located in the side wall of saidcontainer,

said member having a passage and a valve seat within said passage,

a valve disc mounted for movement into engagement with said valve seat,

a spring normally biasing said Valve disc into engagement with saidvalve seat,

and valve opening means connected to the inlet attachment to open saidvalve only on connection of the inlet attachment to said wall couplingmember.

5. A device according to claim 4 wherein said valve opening meansincludes a hose connected to the inlet attachment and a normally closedvalve coupling member connected to said hose, said normally closed valvecoupling member being opened by said valve opening means only onconnection to said wall coupling member.

6. In a boat having an inlet attachment, a live bait container connectedto said inlet attachment in said boat to allow for the free circulationof water from outside the boat into the container, of means forconnecting said container to said boat comprising a first normallyclosed valve coupling member connected to said container,

a second normally closed valve coupling member connected to said inletattachment,

said second coupling member including a tubular housing,

a retainer cap positioned in said housing and having an internal flangeforming a valve seat, pin means securing said cap to said housing,

a valve means in said housing biased into engagement with said valveseat and valve opening means to move said valve means off of said valveseat when said first coupling member is mounted on said second couplingmember.

7. A device according to claim 6 wherein said first valve couplingmember comprises a tubular housing having an internal valve seat,

a second valve means biased into engagement with said internal valveseat,

whereby said valve opening -means opens both valve means on connectionof said coupling members.

8. The combination of a boat, a transportable live bait containeradapted to be positioned in the bottom of the boat and disconnectablecoupling means to allow for the free flow of water into and out of thecontainer, said coupling means comprising a flexible conduit connectedto the boat,

a pair of complementary coupling members joined to said conduit and saidcontainer,

each of said coupling members including a housing having a valve seatand a valve member biased toward engagement with said seat,

a valve stem positioned to open said valve members only when saidcoupling members are connected,

Said seat on one said housing comprising an annulus,

and an O-ring sealing said annulus constantly to one said housing, andtemporarily to the other said housing when said parts are connected.

9. The device of claim y8 wherein at least one said valve member issealed with an O-ring,

and radial guide members on said valve member to guide said valvemembers within said housing.

References Cited UNITED STATES PATENTS 2,457,052 12/1948 Le Clair137--6l4-04 2,931,668 4/1960 Baley 137-614.04 2,936,542' 5/1960 Butleret al 4'3-57 3,152,452 10/1964 Bond et al 137-614.04 X

HUGH R. CHAMBLEE, Primary Examiner

